GEFONT: A SWOT Analysis by ILO ACTRAV

Since late 1990s GEFONT emerged as a popular trade union federation. Its popularity was not limited only in the home but also in international community. This is approved from the studies made by some of the individuals & institution on GEFONT.

"Workers' education assistance in management training for trade unionists in selected countries" is a part of the global trade union training activities carried out by the ILO Bureau of workers activities (ILO-ACTRAV), Geneva. The main objective of the project was to equip national trade union centres, federations and tradeunion's training centre in selected Asian countries. Nepal is one among the countries selected.

Dr. Venkata Ratnam of IMI-New Delhi, and Mr. Sitaram Prasai of HURDEC, Kathmandu had conducted this study with the hope that the findings of the survey will be the basis for developing the trade union training materials on organisational and strategic managements. The team had selected GEFONT for their study through interview they conducted with GEFONT leadership. Their survey is known as trade union organisational survey 1997/98 and finally the report came out in July 1998.

The study report tried to analyse GEFONT in detail after providing background information of Nepal. It covers the issues like historical background of the GEFONT, its organisational structure, membership and strength, sources of income and expenditure, major activities during 1993 to 1996, enhancing women participation and the future plan of action known by GEFONT by 2000. Finally, the study point out the various aspects of independent transport workers association of Nepal affiliated with GEFONT.

This study concluded by highlighting strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to GEFONT. According to the report the strengths are listed as:

• First registered national centre of trade union with maximum membership and representation across key sectors of the economy.
  
• Young, energetic and pragmatic leadership
  
• Committed cadres and members
  
• Well staffed central secretariat
  
• Sound financial discipline
  
• Leadership comfortable with new technologies, created a home page on internet for GEFONT
  
• Strong political lobbying
  

They cited weaknesses as:

• Political ties
  
• Weak financial condition
  
• Low participation of women
  

They viewed that GEFONT is also suffering from union rivalry based on political ideology, growing informalisation of organised sector because of globalisation, weak bargaining strength of enterprise level unions, semi-feudal industrial relations system.